Call the TRC police!a horrible sight
The Johnny cake center originally took this space because it was a inexpensive rent. There was a lot of the repurposing of old mills and factories happening in RI. Some were turned into condos, but many became artist work spaces, etc. I think the time to create a Guild museum/guitar venue was then. Old downtown Westerly, where the factory is located, experienced a bit of a renaissance in the later 90s and early 2000s. Excellent small restaurants, coffee houses. And Frets remained and was successful. I think the ball was dropped and,unfortunately, the time for this has passed.A museum and venue for smallish performances, luthier classes, etc. would be cool. A custom shop would be even better but who am I kidding.
the time has never passed for a private entity to embark on a real estate investment, especially in a place like (anywhere in the State) of Rhode Island. As for upgrading the building to build guitatrs (properly) there, or teach classes to do so, that part is not so realistic. In reality, no matter what, the entire building would need significant attention, for any type of repurposing. If a music space/restaraunt and possibly modest guitar showroom/shop were established there, I could see some additional development or portion(s) of the building such as a few apartments or hotel rooms, or both; and a small coffee shop for those individuals. maybe still a small thrift store or whatever has sucessfully established themselves there to this point. it's a big building!The Johnny cake center originally took this space because it was a inexpensive rent. There was a lot of the repurposing of old mills and factories happening in RI. Some were turned into condos, but many became artist work spaces, etc. I think the time to create a Guild museum/guitar venue was then. Old downtown Westerly, where the factory is located, experienced a bit of a renaissance in the later 90s and early 2000s. Excellent small restaurants, coffee houses. And Frets remained and was successful. I think the ball was dropped and,unfortunately, the time for this has passed.
I doubt there will be a strong will to create a Guild museum, but if CMG were to do so, I'm sure they'd do it by their headquarters or their Guild facility in CA. Establishing it out here on the east coast, especially in Westerly as an homage to Guild's history doesn't seem likely at all to me. Guild's management today would want such a museum close by to entertain guests / dealers / whatever.
Different story if the museum were something individuals set up, perhaps with CMG's blessing. I just can't see that ever happening.
Perhaps a brewery and live acoustic musc venue?